Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com on Thursday afternoon that Brand will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery Monday after a failed attempt to play through the injury.

I'm personally astounded that the Sixers are still in the playoff hunt and it's all been no thanks to Brand, who hasn't played up to his contract at all in the early goings. Brand just doesn't seem to fit with the Sixers' style and it was that much more noticeable once they started winning after his injury.

This all must be baffling to the Clippers, who can't even point at Brand as a scapegoat for their own tank job.

"It's worth remembering that sometimes popular things are popular for a reason. Because they're GOOD or because Will Smith is in it."